On Friday, US forces targeted and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile in Yemen, citing an “imminent threat” it posed to American aircraft, as announced by the US Central Command in the Middle East.
The Houthi rebel group, which controls a significant portion of Yemen, has been conducting attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since November, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel conflict.
The United States leads a naval coalition dedicated to safeguarding vessels in this crucial waterway, and it has conducted airstrikes in Houthi-controlled territory, both independently and in collaboration with Britain.
In this recent incident, US forces executed a self-defense strike against a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was deemed ready to launch, with the assessment that it posed an imminent threat to US aircraft in the region, according to CENTCOM.
The statement further revealed that the Houthis launched an anti-ship missile into the Red Sea on the same night, but fortunately, no vessels suffered any impact or damage.
This event follows last weekend’s joint strikes by US and British forces on 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen. The targets included weapons storage facilities, attack drones, air defense systems, radars, and a helicopter, as outlined in a joint statement.
The Houthis’ official news agency reported one person killed and eight wounded in these attacks. The ongoing tensions in Yemen underscore the complex geopolitical landscape in the region and the continued efforts to address security challenges in the Red Sea.
